Health
Young Nigerians developing ‘unpredictable’ cancers, Oncologist warns
By Tosin Oyediran
A Clinical Oncologist, Dr Omolola Salako, has raised concern over the increasing number of young Nigerians developing cancer, saying oncologists are seeing “unpredictable” cancers among people aged between 18 and 39.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Sunday, Salako said the development was particularly challenging because many of those affected were below the age at which routine cancer screening is usually recommended.
“And for young cancers, that’s another thing we’re seeing in oncology, there are young people between the ages of 18 and 39 that are developing cancers and these cancers are unpredictable, too young to recommend cancer screening in the first place,” she stated.
She said young adults with cancer often presented late because the possibility of cancer was usually not considered at their age.
“And with the younger adults, they tend to present, you know, late because that’s the last thing on a 20-something years old mind, so with smoking, the causative agent is tobacco,” Salako said.
Tobacco contains over 3,000 cancer-triggering chemicals
Speaking on cancer prevention, detection and treatment, Salako, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Pearl Oncology Specialist Hospital, said tobacco use remained a significant risk factor because of the large number of chemicals it contains.
“Smoking contains tobacco. And in tobacco, there are more than 3,000 chemicals that are known to trigger cancer or start cancer,” Salako said.
She said the risk extended beyond active smokers to people exposed to tobacco smoke.
“Whether you’re smoking it or you’re leaving or hanging around the person who’s smoking, all of that are risk factors, so the first thing I would say is when we speak cancer control, there’s several pillars. So the first pillar is cancer prevention,” the oncologist said.
Salako urged Nigerians to make use of primary healthcare, secondary and tertiary facilities for preventive services, including vaccination against hepatitis B and human papillomavirus.
“And 40% of cancers are preventable. So it’s important women and men are presented at the primary care health care levels to get screened, get vaccinated against hepatitis B virus, human papillomavirus,” she said.
Family history, lifestyle factors raise cancer risks
The oncologist also identified family history as an important factor, particularly where several members of the same family had developed cancer.
“Another challenge I must highlight are those with a strong family history of cancer,” Salako said.
She advised people with a strong family history to consult specialists and undergo appropriate genetic tests to identify potential risks early.
“When there’s a strong family history, you should see a specialist, you should do some genetic tests and there are some drugs and tests that can be done to detect the cancers when they are at stage zero, pre-cancers, when they are microscopic,” she said.
Salako also identified other health and lifestyle-related factors.
“So, of course, kidney diseases leading to renal failure, requiring renal transplant is a big issue, uncontrolled hypertension, I would like to say micronutrient deficiency,” she said.
She said products containing tobacco remained a concern, including electronic cigarettes.
“But it doesn’t mean it’s a healthy option, It’s the chronic, heavy alcohol consumption that stresses the liver, induces chronic inflammation and can cause other types of cancers,” Salako said.
She also explained that prolonged exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation could damage the skin, particularly among fair-skinned people and people with albinism who have lower levels of melanin.
“And so with that less protection and being exposed to harsher UV radiation, there’s more skin damage that is seen as sunburns,” she said.
According to Salako, chronic inflammation was a recurring pathway through which several risk factors could contribute to cancer.
“At the end of the day, almost everything leads to inflammation,” she said.
She said repeated damage to the body’s cells could eventually create conditions in which cancer develops.
“The problem with cancer is, it just takes one arrow in one cell and finds a way to hide. And that’s how cancer can develop,” Salako said.
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